Splitting machine



May 18, 1943 c. E. HOOD SPLITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 1s, i940 '7 Sheets-Sheet l mm. la un, www.

May 18, 1943 c. E. Hoon vSPLITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 18, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVE/WDR,

May 18, 1943 c. E. HOOD v SPLITTING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet .'5

Filed NOV. 18, 1940 c. E. Hoon SPLTTING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 18, 1943 Filed Nov. 18, 41940 /4/ WEA/TUR' M i.' M 5% Af;

Fig

May is, 1943 C. E.- HOOD SPLITTING MACHNE ,A

I 7 sheets-sheet 5 May 18, 1943 I c. E. Hoon `2,319,324

.SPLITTING MACHINE Filed Nov; 1e, 1940 /gg n I '27 26 '2// NMEA/TDH @Mfw 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 May 18, 1943 c, E, HOOD 'SPLITTINQ MACHINE FiledvNov. 1e, 19 4 7 sheets-sheet 7 K Y /A/VEN,

Fig12 Patented May 18, 1943 UNITED STATES ,ATENT OFFICE SPLITTING MACHINE Charles E. Hood, Lynn, Mass., assigner to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a. corporation of New Jersey Application November i8, 1940, Serial No. 366,063

' ss claims. 4(AC1. 1217 This invention relates to splitting machines and is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine having a matrix into which a portion of the work is forced during the splitting operation.

In the manufacture of a certain type of shoe, a sole-shaped blank is split into anoutsole having on its forepart a projection and an insole having a correspondingly located complementary opening, which may or may not extend through the insole. Machines for performing this and similar operations commonly comprise a knife, a roll having a cyli-ndrical portion and a matrix, and a second roll which cooperates with the matrix roll to advance the work to the knife and to force a portion of the moving work into the matrix.

According to one feature of the present inven-v tion, a series of presser lingers are provided which press a part of the moving work against the cylindrical portion of the matrix roll and another part of the work into .the matrix. Preferably the nger or lingers which cooperate with4 the matrix are caused to press against thevvork In accordance with another feature of the invention, a single matrix is provided which is adapted for use with either right or left blanks, means being provided for ensuring that right blanks shall be presented to ythe matrix while in one angular position and left blanks while in another.

In order to speed up the operation of the ma- Y chine, there is provided a magazine for stacks of blanks and means for feeding the blanks in succession to the mechanism includingthe matrix for operating upon the blanks. The blanks of any given stack are selected so that they are all of the same length, but the blanks of different stacks may be of different lengths. According to another feature of the invention. the front Wall ,of the magazine is adjustable toward and from the mechanism for operating upon the blanks so as to vary the distance of the leading ends of the blanks o-i the `stack from the mechanism for operating upon them, andthe feeding meansis adapted to feed all blanks the same distance, ir-

respective oi their lengths, Thus the position of.

the front wall determines the locality on eachv blank which shall be engaged by the matrix.

These and other features of the invention, in-

cluding certain details of construction and combinations of parts will be described as embodied in an illustrated machine and pointed out i-n the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Fig. l is a side elevation of a machine in which the present invention is embodied, the receptacles to receive Vthe soles and insoles having been omitted;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the machine;

Fig. 3 -is a vertical longitudinal section of the machine, the mechanism for distributing the soles and insoles having been omitted;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section showing the driving mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line V-V of Fig. 3 showing the connection between the driving mechanism and the mechanism for feeding blanks from the stack; f

Fig. 6 is a detail, partly in plan and partly Ain section, showing the'mounting ofthe matrix roll;

Fig. 7 is a detail, principally in section, of the mechanism for adjusting the matrix roll;

Fig. 8 is a rear elevation of the magazine for the stack of blanks;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the mechanismy for A adjusting theside walls of the magazine in unison in the same direction, certain parts being shown in section;

Fig. 10 is a View, taken from above, of the parts shown in Fig. 9; Y

Fig. il is a detail on an enlarged scale, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing more particularly the relation of the presser lingers to the knife and rolls;

Fig. V12 is a plan viev(7 of 'avmodied mounting Y Y of the matrix roll; and

Figs. 13 and 14 are perspectives respectively of the insole and the sole which result from the operation of the machine upon a sole-shapedblank.

The purpose of the illustrated machine is to split a sole-shaped blank -into an outsole 200 (Fig. 14:)v having a projection or island in its forepart, an-d an insole 300 (Fig. 13) having a correspondingly located complemental opening which may be merely a recess. To this end, stacks of sole blanks |00 (Fig. 3) each stack consisting of sole blanksVV of the same size, are placed in a magazine and fed one by one from the bottom of the stack to the splitting mechanism.

Preferably, as will appear below, the members of the stack consisting of the longest sole blanks are split first and then, in order, the members of the stacks of smaller blanks. The sole blanks are fed to the splitting mechanism, which includes a matrix and a knife, by a reciprocating pusher or feeder The extent of reciprocation of this feeder is constant, but the location of its path of reciprocation may be varied to take care of sole blanks of different lengths. The magazine (Fig. 3) comprises side walls I3, I5, a back wall i1 V-shaped in cross section, and a front or stop wall |9. As will be described in detail hereinafter, the illustrated matrix, in the preferred embodiment, is a symmetrical one, the same matrix being used in splitting right or left sole blanks, and the position into which the front wall is adjusted determines the location cf the island or projection on the outsole and the corresponding opening in the insole lengthwise Fof these two members.

The splitting mechanism to which the sole blanks are fed comprises a lower toothed feed roll 2|, an upper -roll 23 having in it a matrix 25, a series of main presser fingers, two of which are indicated at 26 and 525, respectively, a stationary knife 21, .and a series of four auxiliary presser fingers 29. There are forty-six presser fingers in the main series. Of these, there are four like the nger 26, these being located in the middle of the series in position to cooperate with the matrix to distort a blank while it is being split. The lower or-feed roll 2| is made up of spaced toothed disks between which stripper iingers on a stripper plate 3| extend. The four auxiliary presser fingers 29 are integral with a narrow plate, which is fastened to the underside of the stripper plate andare in line with the four middle presser fingers 25. From the splitting mechanism, the insoles slide down the upper face of the stripper plate 3| and are delivered into a receptacle, while the soles slide down a chute 33 and are delivered into lanother receptacle. The delivery mechanism, comprising rotary horizontal disks, one of which is shown `in Fig. I2 will be described later.

The upper or matrix roll 23 is rotatably mounted in two alined bent'arms 33, 35, the arm 33 being shown in Fig. 3, and both arms being shown in Fig. 2. These arms are pivoted at their right-hand vor rear ends about a xed center 35 and have extending through their left-hand or forwardends a horizontal slidable shaft 31, sliding movement of which serves to adjust the matrix roll toward and from the feed roll.

Referring to Fig. l, the left-hand end of the arm 35 is urged upwardly about its pivotal center 36 by a compression spring 3S, which is seated in a socket in the frame of the machine and engages with its upper end a small disk, acted upon by a screw 4|, said screw being threaded through a lug on the arm 35. The other arm 33 is urged upwardly by a spring, not-shown, which is like the spring 39 and is mounted in a similar manner. These springs tend at all times to raise the matrix roll. |The manner, in which sliding the shaft -31 ladjusts the matrix roll down against the force of the springs, is shown in Fig. '1. The shaft 31 is slidable horizontally through the lower ends of the arms and through bores formed in parts 43, 45, which are 4rigid with the frame of the machine. Formed in the shaft are two grooves with inclined bottoms 41, 4S, upon which heads of pins 5|, 53 are slidable. Since vthe mountings of these twopins are alike, only one will'be described in'detail. Thevpin A5| extends up through a bore in a block 55, which is bolted from movement away from the knife.

to the stationary part 43 and has an upward extension threaded on its outside. Upon this threaded extension is screwed a cap 51, the underside of which bears upon the top of the pin 5|, a lock nut 59 being provided for locking the cap in adjusted position. The shaft 31 is urged at all times to the left by a compression spring 6|, which bears at one end againsta collar 63 fast to the shaft and at the other end against a washer, which in turn bears against the stationary part 45. A screw provided with a handhold 65, when turned in one direction, pulls the shaft 31 to the right and thereby lowers the matrix roll. When this screw is turned in the other direction, the spring 6| pushes the shaft to thele'ft and raises the matrix roll. The adjusted position of the roll 23, that is its distance above the knife, is indicated by a pointer 64, and scale 5B (Fig. 2). The cap 51 and the corresponding cap 61 are adjusted to hold the lower enlarged ends of the pins 5|, 53 against'the inclined bottoms 41, 49 of the grooves in the shaft and ordinarily are not further adjustable. However, if the matrix roll is slightly nearer to the knife at one end than at the other, there is enough play in the various parts so that one of the caps .51, 61 may be screwed down farther soas `to make the feed roll exactly parallel to the edge of the knife. The lower or feed roll 2| (Fig. l) is mounted similarly to the matrix rollin bent arms, one of which is shown at B8, the arms being urged upwardly at all times by compression springs, one of which is shown at 1U. The arms for the lower roll are prevented from swinging up far enough so that the roll will contact with the knife by stop screws, one of which isshown at 12. A slide rod, like the slide rod 31 for the matrix roll, may be pulled toward the observer or allowed to move away from the observer to adjust the feed roll up or down, av

hand hold 14, like the hand hold 55, being provided for this purpose. By turning ythe hand hold 55, the upper roll may be adjusted substantially vertically into a given position, and held By turning the hand hold 14, the feed roll may be adjusted substantially vertically but is still permitted to be moved away from the knife by a sole blank as it passes between the rolls. The mounting of the rolls and the mechanism for adjusting them is similar to the mounting of the rolls and the adjusting mechanism in the machine of Patent No. 2,082,057, granted June 1. 1937 upon application filed in my name, except that in the patented machine the matrix roll is the lower roll and the feed roll is the upper roll,

Referring again to Fig. 3, the feed slide or pusher is reciprocated, as will presently appear, by oscillating an arm 69 about a rod 1|. This arm is connected by a link 13 to a bent lever 16, which swings about va stud 15 and carries at its outer end a small roll 11, said roll being received in a closed cam track 19 formed in a cam which is fast to a countershaft 8|. Rotation of this shaft, which thus oscillates the arm 69, also causes rotation of the rolls 2|, 23 through gearing shown in Fig. 4. Fast to the shaft 8| is a gear 83, which meshes with a gear 85 on a shaft 81. which drives a gear 9|, fast to the shaft of the feed roll. The gear 89 also drives a gear 93, the axis of rotation of which is the axis about which the matrix roll is swung for adjustment, said gear 93 meshing with a gear 95 which is fast Also fast to the shaft 81 is a gear 89 A to a shaft which drives the matrix roll. The construction described above is such that the blanks are fed to the rolls 2|, 23 at the same speed as the rolls advance the blanks to the knife.

'Ihe countershaft 8| is driven from a continuously rotated pulley 97, which has formed in one side of it the hollow member of a friction clutch, the other conical member of which is indicated at 99. Fast to the countershaft 8| is a spiral gear which meshes with a spiral worm |03 on a sleeve |05, said sleeve being located between portions of the frame and, with the aid of washersI |01, is held from longitudinal movement. This sleeve is fastened by screws, one of which is indicated at |09, to the right-hand hollow portion of a shaft r| which is rotatably mounted in the frame, the left-hand solidend of this shaft carrying the pulley 91 which is rotatable relatively thereto. The right-hand end of the hollow hub of the concal member 99 of the clutch has projections which are receivedv in slots in the left-hand end of the sleeve |05, to which the spiral worm is fast, so that the worm is rotated when the clutch is engaged. A compression spring ||3 tends at all times to push the member 99 to the left to engage the clutch, but is held from doing this, in the position of parts shown, by a slender rod I5, having'near its left-hand end a cross-pin which passes through bores in the projections o n the hub of the conical friction member 99, through the slender rod ||5 and loosely through an enlarged bore in the sleeve |05. The righthand end of the rod ||5 passes loosely through a bore in the upper end of a bearing ||8 pivotally held at the upper ends of two substantially upright links H9, both of whichV are shown in Fig. 2j A compression spring 2|, which is stronger than the spring H3, pulls the rod ||5, and with it the member 99 of the clutch, to the right when the'links I9 are substantially upright, as shown. When, however, the links ||9 are swung to the left through the small angle indicated by the dot-and-dash lines, the clutch is engaged yieldingly through the spring H3. The links ||9 are fast at their lower ends to a small rock shaft |23, to which is fastened the lower end of an arm |25, said arm being in the position shown when the machine is at rest but being capable ofl being swung to thekleft by straightening two small toggle links |21, |29.

When the machine is stopped, it is desirable that the arm 59 (Fig. 3), which reciprocates the sole blank pusher or feeder be alwaysin its retracted position, as shown. rTo this end, the mechanism shown best in Figs. l and 3 is provided. Referring to Fig. 1, the machine is started by swinging an arm ISI to the right until it contacts with a stop |33. When the arm |34 is swung to the right about the vrod about which the feed arm 59 is also pivoted, a small cam i3? integral with the starting and stopping arm 53| engages a small roll |39 on the lower end of a small arm I4! and swings the arm to the right. The hub of this small arm is pinned to a small rock shaft |49, which extends through the frame and out on the other side of the machine. Referring now to Fig. 3, wherein the other end of the rock-shaft |43 is shown in cross section, and to Fig. 5, there is also fast to this rock-shaft the hub of a small casing |45, having a small roll |41 held up by a. spring |49 against the underside of a projection ltywhich is integral with the hub .of the feed arm 59. 75A

When theVrock-shaft |43 is rocked counterclockwise (Fig. 3) the casing |45 is swung to the right into contact with a stop screw |49, the small roll |47 being thus swung from beneath the projection |48 so as to free the feed-arm E9. The toggle member |29, referred to above, also has its hub fast to the rock-shaft |43; and when the casing is swung to the right the toggle member |29 isswung to the left sufficiently to straighten the toggle mechanism and to move its knuckle past dead center. A tension spring |5| fast at its upper end to the frame of the machine and at its lower end to a small arm |53, the hub of which is fast to the rock-shaft |43, tends to swing the casing |45 to the left, but is prevented from doing so by reason of the iact that the knuckle of the toggle has been moved past dead center. Straightening the toggle mechanism |21, |29, as has been explained, swings the link |25 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 3 (to the left as viewed in Fig. 4) and starts the machine. When the start-and-stop lever |3| `(Fig. l) is swung back to its stop position, the spring l5! (Fig. 3) swings the casing |45 to the left; and the small roll |41, as soon as it is permittedto do so, moves into the position shownv beneath the projection oi the feed arm 5,5. Thus, the machine always stops in the position'shown, with thepusher or feeder retracted and the matrix roll 23 with its matrix in the angular position shown, this position, it being" understood, being correlated with the retracted position of the pusher l! so that, when sole blanks have been placed in the magazine and the machine has been started, the islands on the soles and the` corresponding openings in the Vinso'les willV be'properly located, assuming that the front or stop wallv I9 of the magazine has been adjusted into proper position.

, The matrix roll is mounted, 'as shown in Fig. 6, for ready .removalV and replacement so that, for example, ga roll having a dierent matrix may be substituted. The hub of the gear 95, which drives the matrix roll, is pinned to one endof a short shaft |55, the other end of which is enlarged and has a wide straight-sided groove |51'. passing diametrically through it. The shaft |55 is rotatably mounted in the upper part of the arm 33. [From the bottom of the groove |51 a boreV |59 extends into the'center of the shaft andhas driven into one wall a small pin |6I. The roll-shaft |93, having in its left-hand end a spiral groove to receive the pin, is slidably androtatably mounted in the other arm 35 and has a-collar |65 near its right-hand end, the extreme right-hand end being knurled. The

matrix roll 23 is justlorig enough to t in between the enlarged end of the short shaft |55 and the adjacent face, of the arm 35, and has a projection. |59 which is a slide lt in the groove |51. To put the rollin place, the shaft |63 is Vpulled to the right until its left-hand Vend is in the arm 35; the roll is slid vertically into place, and then the shaft |53 is pushed to the left and rotated .to-cause the groove |65 to receive the small pin |6|. A collar |66 may be provided, if desired, which contacts with the arm 95. It has been been explained that theV machine comes to rest with theparts in the positions shown in Fig. 3,- and it will be noted that the projection |69 on the matrix roll is substantially vertical at that time, so'that' thev matrixroll may readily be removed and'replaced. i Y

-Referringto' Figs. 2'3 and 3,y the sidewalls "'|3, '.|5 of .themag'azine 'which arey adjustable-Y simultaneously Vtoward and from each Vother as well as in unison crosswise of the machine, and the front wall I9 which is adjustable lengthwise of the machine as well as up and dwn,.are carried indirectly by spaced upright stationary plates I1I, |13. The rear wall I1, which is V- shaped in cross section, is slidably adjustable, as will be described later, along a bar, the forward end of which forms part of the bottom of the magazine. A plate |11 (Figs. 2 and 8) is fastened by small screws |19 to the side wall I3, said plate carrying, near the vertical middle of its rear portion, a horizontal rod |16 which is slidable through a bore in the stationary plate |13. At its upper forward end the plate |11 has an eye which is fastened to a cross-rod I8I, said cross-rod being slidable in the stationary plates I1I, |13. A coil spring |83, which bears at one end against the stationary plate |1| and at the other against the eye on the plate |11, tends at all times to move said plate, the side wall I3 and the slidable cross-rod I8| in a direction to move the side wall I3 outwardly away from the central longitudinal vertical plane of the machine, this movement being limited by contact of the head of one of the screws |19 with the stationary plate |13. The other side wall I5 is similarly mounted. It has fastened to it a plate |35, carrying near the vertical middle of the rear portion a horizontal rod |81 which is slidable through a bore in the stationary plate I'iI. At its lower forward end the plate |85 has an eye which is fastened to a slidable cross-rod |89, located directly below the crossrod IBI and having on it a coiled compression spring I9I like the coiled compression spring |83 of the upper cross-rod ISI. These two coiled compression springs tend to move the cross-rods in opposite directions and thereby to movethe side walls I3, I5 in unison away from each other.

A stack of sole blanks is placed in the magazine and then, with his thumb and ngers, the operator moves the side walls I3, I5 toward each other until the walls contact respectively, with opposite sides of the stack, as shown in Figs. 2 and 8. When the operator thus moves the side walls toward each other, they remain in the position to which they were moved, being locked in such position by a small Horton clutch, presently to be described, which locks the slidable cross-rods |8i, |89 in adjusted position. The two slide-rods ISI, |39 are connected at their left-hand ends (Fig. 8) by a member |93 having its opposite ends forked. There is at each end of the member a fork to receive the flattened end of one or the other of the slide-rods ISI, |99, and a fork at right angles to the rst-named fork. The flattened end of the slide-rod |8| is received in one fork while, slidable in that fork which is at right angles to the one which received the flattened end of the shaft, are two square blocks, one of which is shown at |95, said blocks being swiveled to the slide-rod I9I about a pin |91. The lower slide-rod |39 is attached in the same manner to the lower double fork on the member |93. Consequently, when the side walls I3, I5 are adjusted toward each other, the member |93 is rocked clockwise, as viewed in the gure, about a stud |99. The member |93 has integral with it the circular cup-shaped member 29| of a Horton clutch, which prevents the member |93 from rotating counterclockwise and, therefore, holds the side walls I3, I5 in adjusted positions. When it is desired to release the Horton clutch, a trig- I93 a double fork, that is, f

ger v203 risswung slightly ,to the right, whereupon the side walls I3, I5 are moved by the vsprings |83, I9I to their extreme separated positions. Thus, when a stack oi sole blanks has been placed in the magazine and the side walls I3, I5 moved toward each other until they engage the sides of the stack, they remain substantially where put. After the sole blanks have been split, the trigger 293 is manipulated to cause the side walls to separate preparatory to having anotherstack of blanks placed in the magazine.

It is sometimes desirabie to movethe side walls i3, t5 in unison inthe samedirection, -either to one sideor the other, so as to locate properly the island on the sole andthe complementary opening 'in the insole widthwise of these two members respectively. To this end, the casting 205 (Fig. l1) ,upon which the double-ended forked member |93 and theHorton clutch29| are mounted, is Aslidably mounted'on two small horizontal rods 291, 299 for adjustment crosswise of the machine, it being understood that adjustment of the forked member |93 bodilyY to the right or left (Fig. 8) adjusts the slide-rods I8 I, |89 in unison in the same direction crosswise of the machine and, with them, the side plates I3, I5 of the magazine. To this end (Figs.'9 and l0) the casting 205 has a vertical bore in whicha rotatable stud 2II is slidable to a very slight extent, said stud having at its lower` end a head which limits upward sliding movement, and at its upper end a small attened projection 2|3, said projection being receivedbetween and pivoted to the branches of la fork at one end of an operating lever '2I9, This lever has in it -a comparatively large. vertical opening extending from opposite sides of which are two pins 22|', 223 having rotatable on them small blocks 225,221. These blocks are received respectivelyl in two horizontal grooves Vin the hub of the conical member 229 of a friction lock. The hub of the conical member 229 is vertically slidable on the stem 235 of a hollow stationary conical member 231, the lower end of said stem passing through a bore in a stationary part ofthe machine and being held in place by a nut '239. A spring 233 normally holds the conical member 229 in engagement with the hollow conical member 231 and also holds the lever 2 i9 swung up slightly about its pivotal connection with the stud 2II. In the position of therparts shown, the lever 2|9 is held in a given angular position about the axis of the stem 235; and consequently the locking members 229, 231 hold the casting 205 in adjusted horizontal position. When, now, it is desired to change the adjusted horizontal position of the casting, so as to move the side walls I3, I5 of the magazine in unison in the same direction, the left-hand end of the lever 2|9 is depressed slightly so as to disengage the conical member 229 from the hollow conical member .231; and then the lever 2 I9 is swung in a horizontal path about the axis of the stem 235. The extent to which the lever 2 I9 can be swung horizontally is limitedby contact of a small pin 229 with one or the other branch of a V-shaped fork at the right-hand end of la bar 222. This bar is slidably adjustable longitudinally of the machine so as to vary the extent to which the lever 2I9 may be swung in a horizontal path. A clamping block operated by a thumb screw 226 holds the bar 222 in adjusted position.

The front or stop wall of the magazine, which a position farther from said roll.

ferred illustrated construction, the matrix is a part of the machine. that by exerting a small force, the cam 255 may be turned, the pin serving to hold the cam consists of the upright bar |9, is mounted for adjustment longitudinally of the machine toward and from the knife and rolls, and for vertical adjustment. The adjustment longitudinally of the machine is for the purpose of locating properly that portion of the cut of the knife which, when the matrix comes into operation, forms the island on the sole and the complementary opening in the insole. For long sole blanks, for example, the stop wall I9 will be adjusted into a position nearer to the matrix roll, and for short soles into In the presymmetrical matrix, one matrix serving for the splitting of all sole blanks including both rights rand lefts.

'derstood, is a matrix which can be divided into A symmetrical matrix, it will be untwo symmetrical portions by a plane which is parallel to the direction in which the work is advanced to theknife, in the illustrated construction by a plane which is at right angles to the axis of the matrix roll. As will appear later, the

i rear wall I1 of the magazine is adjusted crosswise of the machine in one direction or the other,

according to whether the stack of blanks to be split is composed of rights or lefts. Thel blanks are placed in the magazine with their grain sides up. In Fig. 2, a stack of right sole blanks is being held in proper position, the front wall I9 being in position longitudinally of the machine to ensure that the matrix shall come into play at the correct distancefrom the toe ends of the blanks, and the rear wall I1 being in position crosswise of the machine for right sole blanks. The adjustment of the wall I9 up and down is to locate the lower end of the wall above Alongitudinally of the machine a member 240 (Fig. 3) said member being fast to the rear ends of two rods 243, 245 slidable, respectively, in bores inbosses which are integral with the stationary side plate |1|, one of said bossesbeing shown at 249.y The front wall I9, as will be described in detail later, is carried by two right-angled arms i 269, 21|- having spaced hubs which are rotatable respectively upon the slide rods and,-to'gether with the member 249, are continually urged to the left (Fig. 3) by compression springs 25|, 253.` The .member 240, and with it the front wall |9, is -adjusted toward the splitting mechanism against :the force of the springs by a cam 255, which engages a small roll 251carried by the member 249. The cam is rotatable about a stud 259 and is provided with a handle 25| by which it may be rotated, the handle being provided with a springpressed locking pin (not shown) having a conical end which enters holes 253 formed in a stationary The construction is such securely 'enough when it enters any one of the holes so that the cam will not move until force is again exerted upon the handle 26 I.

In order to adjust the front wall I9 vertically (Fig. 8), this wall is pivoted, respectively, on the stems of screws 265, 261 to the ends of two paralf lel generally horizontal arms 269, 21|, which are rotatable, respectively, about the slide-rods 243,

245, Each of these armsisbent at right angles 5d tending guide 291 having beveled edges.

and, therefore, has a rearwardly extending portion. Referring to Fig. 2, wherein the rearwardly extending portion of the arm 269 is shown, this portion has two spaced hubs which encircle and are rotatable on the slide-rod 243. .The lower arm 21| is shaped like the upper arm and similarly rotatable on the lower rod 245. As has been stated above, when the casting 249 is adjusted longitudinally of the machine, the slide-rods and the front Wall I9 are adjusted with it. The pivot screws 255, 261 and the ends of the slide-rods 243, 245 (Fig. 8) form the corners of a rectangle, so that, if one of the arms 269, 2| is swung about its rod, the other will remain parallel to it, and the front wall I9 will be adjusted vertically. In the illustrated construction, the upper arm 299 is swung down by turning the knurled head 213 (Fig. 2) of a small shaft 215, which has at its other end an eccentric 211 (see also Fig; 8). The small shaft 213 is rotatably mounted in ears formed upon the rearward extension of the arm 259. If, therefore, the small rotatable shaft l215 is bodily raised or lowered, the arm 259 will be swung about the slide-rod 243. The small shaft 215 is urged bodily downward at all times by a spring216 (Fig. 8), which acts to push down the rearward extension of the lower arm 21| and thereby to swing up the ends of the arms 21|, 269 which are pivoted to the front wall I9. This tends, of course, to raise the front wall. In order to lower the front Wall, the short shaft 215 is rotated so as to rotate the eccentric 211 on the end of the shaft. The eccentric is held down by the action of the spring, referred to above, against the end of a stop screw 231; and consequently,

' when the eccentric is turned, the small shaft 215 rises and falls bodily,V the front wall I9 rising `when the shaft is lowered and being lowered when the shaft rises.` The small shaft 215 has an enlarged cylindrical portion next to the eccentric 211, which has in' its periphery a series of small depressions 239 (Fig. 8) with whicha catch in the form of a spring plunger cooperates.

The upper end of the feed arm (i9Y (Fig. 3) is connected by a link 29| with a carrier 293, which is horizontally slidable on two parallel rods, one of which is shown at 295, said slidable carrier having at its upper portion a longitudinally ex- A slide block 299 has a dovetailed guideway on its underside to flt over the guide,.the block 299 .thus being adjustable longitudinally of the machine along the guide 291, the block being locked in adjusted wise of the machine in which a cross slide .393 is slidable. Mounted upon this cross slide and Aextending longitudinally of the machine is a small narrow piece 395, the rear end of which is at a lower level than is the front end. On the f rear end of this narrow piece is mounted a vertical roll 391; and to the forward end is fastened through a, longitudinal slot 3|3 in a long bar 3 5, the forward end of this bar (Fig. 2) forming part ofthe bottom or table of the magazine. The rest of the bottom or table of the magazine is formed bytwo plates 3 I1, 3|9 (Fig. 8)fastene'd`to the bar and having their upper faces flush with the upper face of the bar.

The bar 3|5 is adjustable crosswise of the machine and carries with it the rear wall I1 of the magazine in order to swing the rear end of the stack of blanks so as to provide for right and left blanks; and, when the bar is so adjusted, it also carries with it the feed slide I I through the mechanism which has just been described. The bar lis adjusted crosswise of the machine by swinging a lever 32| (Fig. 21'), the hub of which is rotatable about a vertical stud 323 carried by the frame of the machine, one end of the bar being pivoted to the outer end of an arrn 325 which is integral with the lever 32|. The forward end of the bar 3|5 is pivoted at 321 to one end of an arm 329, the hub of which is pivoted about a vertical stud 33| carried by the frame of the machine. The bar 3I5 is thus pivotally supported upon the two arms 325, 329, and these arms, together withthe studs 323, 33| about which they swing, form part of a parallel link motion, so that when the two arms are swung in unison the bar 3I5 moves crosswise of the machine. In order so to swing the hub of the arm 329 when the lever 32| is.`

swung, said hub has integral with it a second arm 333; and the outer end of this arm is connected by a long link 335 with an extension of the lever 32|. When, therefore, the lever 32| isswung about its vertical stud 323, the bar SI5 and withV it the bottom of the magazine is moved crosswise of the machine. Since the bar carries with it the rear wall I1 of the magazine which engages the rear ends of the sole blanks, the crosswise adjustment of this rear wall swings the rear end of the stack of sole blanks in one direction or the other, so as to provide for right and left blanks. In order to facilitate swinging-the lever 32| and holding it in adjusted position, one end of this lever swings over a stationary member 331 32|, is mounted for sliding adjustment crosswise of the machine upon the head of the stud 323, said stem having a slot through which and into the stud passes the stem of aclamping screw 345.

As has been stated, the rear wall I1 of the magazine partakes of the crosswise adjustment of the bar 3 I 5. This rear wall is also slidably adjustable lengthwise of the bar. Referring. to Fig. 3, the rear wall I1 is carried by a casting 341 which is slidable for a short distance lengthwise of the machine on the top of a block 349. The underside of the block has a guideway` to fit over the bar 3| 5 and is held on the bar by a plate 35|, which eX- tends across the underside of the bar and is fastened to the walls of the guideway. The block is thus slidable along the bar. In order to hold the block, and with it the rear wall I1 of the magazine, in any position to which it is moved forwardly, the bar has teeth 353 with which cooperate one or the other of two small pawls 355, one located slightly in advance of the other, said pawls being pivoted to the block and having. upright stemsv acted upon by small horizontal spring-pressed plungers 351. In order to be able to releasethe pawls when it is desiredtomove the block rearward, a pusher 339, which maybe moved to act upon the upright stems of the pawls so as to release them, has'a horizontal stem 36| slidably mounted in the block, the pusher being normally held in inoperative position by a compression spring 353.

Preparatory tov operating upon sole blanks, these blanks are arranged in stacks, each stack containing sole blanks of the same length, all of which are either rightsl or lefts. The stacks containing the longest blanks are prefer-ably operated upon rst, and then in order the stacks of successively shorter blanks. Before placing a stack of blanks in the magazine, the pusher 359 is pushed forward to disengage the pawls 355 from the teeth 353, and the block 349, which carries the rear wall I1 of the magazine, is moved back. The handle 33| is manipulated to unlock the feed slide II from the guide 291, and the feed slide is moved back. The trigger 203 (Fig. 8) is manipulated to free the side walls I3, I5 and to permit the springs |83, ISI to separate the side walls as far as possible. The front wall I9 of the magazine isv adjusted lengthwise in accordance with the length of the sole blanks by manipulating the handle 26| (Fig. 3) and heightwise, in accordance with the thickness of the sole blanks, byrturning the small shaft 215 (Fig. 8) The stack of sole blanks is now placed in the magazine; the side-walls I3, I5 are moved toward each other until they engage the opposite sides of the stack; and the block 3491s pushed forward, said block carrying with it the rear wall I1 of the magazine and the feed slide I| until the toe ends of the sole blanks, except for the bottom one, engage the front wall I9 of the magazine. This is the position shown in Fig.' 3, in which the forward end of the stack of blanks is in contact with the front wall I9 and the feed slide I I is substantially in contact with the rear end of the lowermost blank and ready to start its forward or feeding stroke. With this construction and in View of the fact that the extent of reciprocation of the feed slide is always thesame and that the blanks of any given stack are always of the same length, each blank of every stack which is placed in the magazine is fed the same distance by the feed slide. Consequently, the lengthwise position of the blanks of the stack, which depends upon the position of the front wall I9, determines the locality longitudinally of each blank which will be engaged-by the matrix.

As has been explained, the side walls I3, I5 (Fig. 8) are urged apart at all times by the coiled springs |33, I9I and are held in'adjusted position by the small Horton clutch contained in the casing 23| A clutch of this kind always has a small amount of backlash, and consequently, when the side walls I3, I5 arefmoved up against opposite sides of thestackl and released, they separate slightly so that the sole blanks are free to settle down as the lowermcst blanksof the stack are successively fed. The'feed slide II is separate from the block 343 and is moved forward-because the block contacts with the rear end of the slide when the block is moved forward. The Arear wall I1, as has been explained, is rigid with the casting 341 (Fig. 3), which is slidable for a short distance lengthwise of they machine on the block 349.Y It isheld normally at the rear limit of its path by a spring-pressed plunger 334 (Fig, 2) which acts upon one arm Yof a bell crank lever 361, said bellcrank lever being pivoted at 369'to the block 349. Near the end of that arm of the bell crank lever which is engagedby thespringpressed plunger'364 isa cam slot through which pushing is to move forward the block 349 andv the rear wall I1 of the magazine.v This forward movement is continued, as has been stated, until the forward end of the stack contacts with the front wall I9 of the magazine. When this has been accomplished and the bell crank lever 361 is released, the casting 341 and with it the rear wall I1 of the magazine are moved slightly rearward by the spring-preses-d plunger 354, theparts then being in the positions shown in Fig. 2. This backward movement of the rear wall' I1 is very slight but is sufficient to prevent the sole blanks of the stack from being gripped between the rear wall I1 and the front wall I9 of the magazine and permits the stack to settle as the lowermost blanks are successively fed from it. After having thus placed a stack of blanks in the magazine, grain side up, and adjusted the walls as described above, the long bar 3|5 is adjusted crosswise of the machine, depending upon whether the b-lanks are rights or lefts, by swinging the lever 32! and locking it in position by means of the clamping screw 341. Such adjustment of the bar adjusts the rear wall I1 and the feed slide Il with it. In Fig. 2, a stack of right sole blanks is shown, grain side up, in position to be fed.

As has been stated, there is provided a, series of presser fingers for pressing the blanks against the matrix roll, there being forty-six of these fingers in the illustrated machine. As a blank passes between the rolls of the splitting mechanism and is split into an outsole and an insole, it is desirable that an increased pressure should be exerted upon that portion of the blank which engages the matrix, in order to distort the blank properly and force it firmly against the bottom of the matrix. To this end, the middle ones of the series of iingers, the four middle ones of the forty-six in the illustrated machine, are acted upon by springs which are much stronger than the springs which act upon the other presser ngers, and the stronger springs are permitted to be operative as a portion of each blank arrives in position to be forced into the matrix. Referring to Fig. 3, one of the four middle fingers is shown at 26, and one of the other forty-six at 526, the positions shown being those occupied when the machine is at rest. In Fig. ll, these ngers are shown on a larger scale, but it should be noted that in Fig. 11 the machine lisnot at rest. Instead, a sole is about to enter between the rolls. The fingers are all pivoted about a rod 31E and are individually urged to rotate in a counterclockwise direction by springs. To this end, the tail of each finger has a small boss which is acted upon by a small horizontally slidable springpressed plunger; but the springs which act upon the plungers for the middle fingers l26 are stronger than the springs for the other plungers, and the operative ends of the four middle fingers are capable of being swung farther in a counterclockwise direction than are the operative ends of the other fingers. In Fig. 3, the two upper plungers 313 are associated with two of the middle ngers 26, while the Vtwo Vlower The first effect of such pushing is rp1ungers315 are associated with two of the other fingers 526. Each plunger .31,5 is horizontally slidable through a bore in a'wall of asmall box- .like member 311, which is fastened to the frame,

,blank is being operated upon, is urged by a compression spring 319 to the limit of its movement to the right. When the plungers 315 are in this 10 extreme right-hand position, as shown, the operative ends of the fingers 525 are substantially iiush with the periphery of the toothed feed roll 2 l. The plungers 3'3which act upon the middle fingers 25, are also horizontally slidable through bores in the wall of the box 3l1 and are acted upon by stronger springs, the construction being such that', when the machine is at rest, or when no blank is being operated upon, the operative ends of the fingers 2B are close to thematrix roll, as in Fig. 3. If these four strongly pressed fingersv were allowed to remain in this position, they would tend to interfere with the entrance of the leading end of a blank between the rolls. Just before the leading end of a sole blank'which is being fed reaches a position in which it would engage the middle fingers 25, these fingers are swung down by pressure exerted upon their tails `to the position shown in Fig. ll so as to permit the blank to enter readily between the rolls. In this position they are inoperative or substantially so. When, now, a portion of the blank is about to reach a position in which it should be forced into the leading end of the matrix, the pressure upon the tails of the fingers 25 is withdrawn, and

the ngers are free to be caused by their strong springs to distort the blank and press it iirmly into the matrix; They so press this portion of the blank into the matrix during thatv portion of the cut ofthe knife which produces the island on thefsole andthe corresponding opening in the insole'. They continue to press upon the blank as long as it'remains in the machine and are still in pressing position when it leaves the machine.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the mechanism for thus controlling the operation of the fourmiddle fingers 26 will be described. Pivoted about the irod 131i, about which all the fingers are pivoted,

arelthe upper ends of two parallel arms, one of 'which is'shown at 38i. A short horizontal rod 383 connects the lower portions of these two arms and has mounted upon it a roll 385, which is just long enough so that when moved to the left it will engage the tails of the four middle fingers 25. Pivoted to the arms is one 'end of a link 381, the other end of which is *pivoted toone 'arm of Ia bell crank lever 389 mounted to swing about a fixed pivot 33|. rAt the extremity ofthe other arm of the bellcrank lever is a roll 393. The pivot which connects the right-hand end of the link 381 with one arm of the bell crank lever 38d carries-a roll 395which runs on a generally cylindrical cam on the shaft 8|, said cam having a projection 391; and, whenthe roll is engaged by the projection 391, this pivotal connection is pushed up past dead center. It is prevented from continuing its upward movement'by contact of the yroll 393 with the cylindrical portion of another small cam on the shaft 8l, said small` cam having a projection 399. The pushingup of the pivotal connection between the toggle links 381,

389, which causes the roll 335 to engage the't'ails Aof the four middle ngers 26 and swing them to the left, takes place, as shown in Fig. 11, just axis of the vertica1 shaft 405.

engage these fingers. The operative ends of these middle fingers are thus moved away fromv the matrix rollv to permitV ready-entrance of the leading end of a blankY between the rolls. They remain'in this inoperative position until the leading end ofthe matrix is about to engage the blank. They varethen released'by the projection 399 (Eig. 3) which engages the roll 393andpulls down the knuckle of the toggle whichv comprises the link 381 andone arm of the bell crank lever 309. Ihev middle lingers. 26 are thereafter 'operative and remain so until a succeeding blank is fedfrom the magazine, whereupon they are once more depressed for an interval. By the construction which has been described above, there'is'provided a splitting mechanism including amatrix member, a knife, afeed roll, presser fingers andmeans for increasing the pressure exerted by those ngers which engage the portion of a blank which is distorted and forced into the matrix. The purposeof the auxiliary presser fingers 29, which are carried bythe underside-of the stripper plate 3|, is to ensure that the leading portion ofthe blank shallbe properly held up "againstthematrix roll during the time that the operative ends of themiddle fingers are being held down. There are four of these auxiliary ngers, and.theyare located in line with the middle presser fingers 26.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the solesV and insoles which result from the splitting of theblanks pass, respectively, down achute 33v and down the stripper plate 3| to a mechanism which delivers them into one or the other of` two other'receptacles. Thisv delivering. mechanism comprises two large` disks, `an upper disk 40|- to receive the soles and a lower disk 403 to receive the insoles, ,said disks being fast to Ia vertical shaft 405 which is supported in bearings in a base 402 adjustably fastened to thev frame of the machine. The shaft is rotated continuously in the direction indicated by the arrow (Fig. 2). by means of a pulley 401, which is fast to the shaft, and a belt 409 which passes around the pulley401 and around a pulley 4| I on the countershaft 8|. Extending partly around the peripheries of the disks is a thin upright wall 4|2, which prevents the soles and insoles from being thrown off the disks until they reach the proper localities and aids in guiding the soles and insoles, respectively, into receptacles 4| 3, 4 I5. The soles are received upon the upper disk 40|, the end of thewall 4|2, considered in a direction of rotation of the disk, which cooperates with this upper disk, being. indicated at 4H. After passing this end, the sole is free to be thrown from the disk. In order to guide the sole into the receptacle 4|3, adeflector 4|9 is provided. The hub.- of this deflector is pivoted about the upper end of the shaft 405 and is held in adjusted angular position by a bar 42|, said b'ar being pivoted at one end aboutthenupper end of .a vertical rod 423and having near its other end a slot 425. The stem of a-clamping screw 421 passes loosely through the slot and is threaded into the deflector 4|9, so that the deflector may be held in angularly adjustedposition about the There are two other upright rods 428, 430 like the rod 423. All three of these rods are carried by the 'base `402 and support the wall 4|2 by vpassing through perforated ears or lugs which are fast to said wall. In Fig. 2, there is showna sole 200 in the positionwhich it. occupies Von the rotating disk 40|, just before it is delivered into. the receptacle 4|3. The lower rotatinglink403- is a duplicate of the: upper one and has associated with it. a `destraight-sided flector 433-like the deflector 429 and held in adjuste'd position to` cause the insoles to be delivered into the receptacle 415 by a bar 435, which is like the bar 42|. The end portion of the wall 4|2\, considered in the direction of the rotation of the disk which cooperates with the lower disk, is indicated at 422. An insole 350, which is about to be delivered into this chute, is shownv in engagement with the deector 433.

In the operation ofthe machine, a stack of sole blanks is placed upon the bottom of the magazine, and the side, front. and rear walls of themagazine are adjusted in the manner which has been described above. The starting lever |3| (Fig. l.) is then swung to the right'into'contact with the stopl |33. This throws in the clutch and starts the `operation of thev machine. The blanks are fedrapidly in succession to the splitting mechanism, where they are split into soles and insoles, these latter being, received on the rotating disks 40|, 403 and discharged, respectively; into` the receptacles 4|3, 4|5.

The machine described above is provided with a matrix roll having a single matrix, which is adapted to be used with both right and left sole blanks; and, inA order to cause such matrix to contact properlyfwith either right or left blanks, the right blanks are presented to the roll at one angle and the left. blanks at another, this being accomplished by adjusting crosswise of the machine the rear wall of the magazine which holds the stack of blanks. In Fig. l2, there is. shown a modified construction. A roll 523 having two matrices 524, 525, one for right sole blanks and one for lefts, together with a part of a left. sole blank, is shown in position to have the blank fed to the roll, the line 521" indicating the path of travel of the. blank as it is presented or fed to the roll. When right sole blanks are to be operated upon, the matrix roll 523 is adjusted to the right, until the matrix 524 is in the position which is occupied in thefigure by the matrix 525.

`'Ihe mounting of the-matrix roll, in such manner that it may be so adjusted, is as follows. The arms-533, 535, which correspond to the arms 33,. 35 ofV Fig. 6 and carry the matrix' roll 523, arespaced apart far enough to permit horizontal adjustment of the roll, said roll beingY mounted, except for its capability of longitudinal adjustment,.substantially as is the matrix roll of Fig. 6. The hub of the gear 555, which drives the matrix roll, is pinned to one end of aA short shaft 555 rotatably mounted in the arm 533, the other end of said shaft being enlarged and having a wide groove passing diametrically through it to receive a vprojection on the matrix roll. From the bottom of the groove a bore extends into the center of 'the shaft and has driven into` its wall a small pin 56|. The roll shaft 553, having in its left-hand end a spiral groove 555 .to receive the pin, is slidably and rotatably mounted in the other arm 535 and has a shoulder 555 which engages a boss on the matrix roll. Thel gear 595 is driven by a gear 596, which is like the gear 93 of Fig. 4, except that it is an elongated gear along which the gear 595 may be adjusted. With the parts'in the positions shown in Fig. 12, the matrix roll 523y will remain in the longitudinal position shown, wherein the matrix 525 is properly located for operating upon left sole blanks. If, now, right sole blanks are to be operated upon, the gear 595, the short shaft 555 which `is fast 'to the gear, the matrix roll 523 and. the matrix roll shaft 553 are'slid to the right tabring .thematrix 524 into the position occupied in the figure vbythe matrix y5215. This sliding `adiustmen't is by swinging a hand lever 551 pivoted about a fixed shaft 599 and having `Aat its upper end a roll 60|, which extends into a groove formed in the hub of the gear 595. The hand lever 591 may be held in either of its two angular positions by a spring-pressed plunger 603 which enters one or the other of two holes in a stationary plate 605, one hole beingshown at 601.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. ll that the edge of the knife 21 is spaced somewhat back of a plane passed through the axes of rotation of lthe rolls 2|, 23, thatl yis from the bite of the rolls. It is desirable that the vedge of the knife be located as close as is possible to said bite and still allow for clearance of the Work. In the present case, as is usual, the edge is located in a plane passed through the axis of the upper roll substantially at right angles to the surface of the knife adjacent toits edge. The operative portions of the middle presser lingers 2-6, thegroup which acts to force a part of the work into the matrix, are located, when they vare in raised operative position, above the corresponding portions of the other fingers 526, the group which acts to press other parts of the work against the cylindrical portion of the matrix roll. The operative portions of the fingers 26 are also spaced farther from the edge of the knife than are the operative portions of the fingers 52S; their operative por` tions are rounded and a plane passed through the axes of the rolls intersects these rounded portions. The operative ends of the fingers 526 lie close to the edge of the knife. It is necessary that the cutting of sole blanks be done accurately. For example it is commonly a requisite that the variation in thickness of that part of the blank which is split by a cut parallel to a yface of the blank shall not exceed .005 of an inch. With the construction of the present machine, the fingers 26 bend a part of the moving blank into the matrix in such manner that the knife enters and leaves the blank properly, and at` the same time the fingers 525 hold other portions of the blank firmly against the cylindrical surface of the roll close to the edge of the knife so that theethickness of that portion of the blank which is split on the cylindrical portion of the roll is of a uniform thickness.k

Although the invention has been set forth as embodied in an illustrated machine, it should be understood that the invention is not limited in the scope of its application to the particular machine which has been shown and described.

Havingl thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A.machine of the class described having, in combination, a roll having a cylindrical portion and a matrix, a straight-edged knife adapted to cooperate Vwith the cylindrical portion to split that part of the blank which engages the cylindrical portion by a cut which is parallel to a face of the blank and to cooperatewith the matrix to make in that part of the blank which engages the matrix -a cut which is at an angle to the firstnamed cut, a feed roll, a series of presser fingers adapted to press a. part of the moving blank against the cylindrical portion and another part againstthe matrix, and means constructed and arranged to compel certain presser lingers which cooperate with the matrix to exert a greater pressure upon the blank than do other fingers which cooperate with the cylindrical portion.

2. A machine for cutting a sole-,shaped 4:blank into an outsole having a projection on its forepart and an insole having 1a similarly located opening, said'machine having, in combination, a matrix roll having a cylindrical portion and a matrix surrounded by said cylindrical portion, ra knife adapted tto cooperate with the cylindrical portion to split that part of the blank which engages the cylindrical portion by a cut which is parallel to a face of the blank and to cooperate with the matrix to produce ,fthe projection on the outsole and the corresponding opening in the insole, a feed roll, and a series of yielding presser lingers constructed and arranged to press a pant of the moving blank against the cylindrical portion of the lmatrix roll with `a given pressure and another part into the matrix with a greater pressure.

3. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, a member having a matrix, a cooperating member, a plurality of presser fingers for Apressing the blank against the matrix member, yielding means tending at all tirnes to urge the ngers into operative position, and automatically operated means for moving selected iingers away from operative position and for holding them rthus `to facilitate the entrance of the leading end of a blank between the members and for thereafter releasing them.

4. A machine of the Iclass described having, in combination, a knife, a pair of rolls which cooperate with the knife, a plurality of presser ngers for pressing a moving blank against one of the rolls, springs for actuating the presser ngers, one of the springs being stronger than others, and means for moving the operative end of a nger which is actuated -by the Ystronger sprin-g away from thatroll against which the blank is pressed by the fingers to facilitate the entrance of the leading end of a blank between the rolls and for thereafter releasing the finger.

5. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, a pair of rolls for feeding a blank .to the knife, a plurality of presser iingers for pressing the blank against :one of the rolls, yielding means tending 'at all times to urge thengers into operative position,.and automatically operated means for moving the fingers away from operative position and for holding them thus to facilitate the entrance of the leading end of a blank between the rolls and for thereafter releasing them.

6. A machine of the class describedhaving, in combination, a knife, a matrix roll, a cooperating roll, a plurality of yielding presser fingers for pressing a moving blank against the matrix roll close to the edge of the knife, the fingers which cooperate with the matrix being adapted normally to occupy a position nearer to the matrix roll than the other fingers, and automatically operated means for moving said matrix fingers away from the matrix roll, for holding them in the position to which they are moved so as to facilitate the entrance of the leading end of a blank between the rolls, and for thereafter releasing them. l

'1. A machine ofthe class described having, in combination, a knife, a roll having a cylindrical portion and a matrix, a cooperating roll, a pluraliity of yielding presser fingers for pressing a moving blank against the matrix roll `close to the edge of the knife, means for causing certain of the fingers which cooperate with the matrix to exert a greater pressure upon the yblank than the others, the operative ends of the lingers which cooperate with the matrix being adapted, when permitted, to occupy a position nearer to Athe matrix roll than the other fingers, means for moving said matrix fingers away from the matrix roll, for holding l'them in the position to which they are moved so as to facilitate the entrance of the leading end of a blank between the rolls, and for thereafter releasing them, and `auxiliary presser fingers located in advance of the matrix fingers for holding the leading end of the blank against the matrix roll while the matrix fingers are in their position away from said roll.

S. A machine of the class described having, in combination, mechanism including a knife and a pair of cooperating rolls for operating upon blanks, a plurality of fingers for pressing Ka moving blank against one of the rolls, said fingers being held from movement with the blank, means for feeding blanks in succession to the bite of the rolls over the operative ends of the fingers, and mechanism independent of the Iblank and operating in timed relation with the feeding of 'a blank for depressing and then releasing certain of the fingers.

9. A machine of theclass described having, in combination, mechanism Vincluding a knife and a pair of cooperating rolls for operating upon blanks, ya plurality of ngers for pressing a moving blank against one of the rolls, means for feeding blanks in succession to the bite of the rolls over the operative ends of the fingers, mechanism operating in timed relation with the feeding of a blank for depressing and then releasing certain of the fingers, and auxiliary presser fingers located in advance of the fingers which are depressed for holding the leading end of the blank against one of the rolls.

l0. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a matrix roll, |a cooperating roll, a knife, presser fingers, yielding means tending at all times to move the fingers into position to press a portion ofthe moving blank into the matrix, a rotating shaft, and means operated by the shaft for moving the fingers away from the matrix roll, for holding them thus for an interval and for thereafter releasing them. Y

1l. A machine of the class described having, in combination, mechanism including a matrix for operating upon blanks, a magazine for a stack of blanks, said magazine having a front wall, means for feeding blanks in succession beneath said wall to the operating mechanism, an arm pivoted about a substantially horizontal axis and pivoted at its free end to the front wall whereby, when the arm is swung about its axis, the front wall is adjusted vertically, said. arm, and with it the front wall, being adjustable toward and from the operating mechanism.

12. A machine of the class described having, in combination, mechanism including a matrix for operating upon blanks, a magazine for a stack of blanks, said magazine including a front wall, means for feeding blanks in succession beneath said wall to the operating mechanism, a pair of parallel arms pivoted about substantially horizontal axes and forming part of a parallel link motion, said arms being pivoted at their free ends to the front wall whereby, when the arms are swung, the front wall is adjusted vertically, said arms, and with thernthe front wall, being adjustable toward and from the operating mechanism.

13. A machine of the class described having, in combination, mechanism including a matrix for operating upon blanks, a magazine for a stack of blanks, said magazine including a front wall, means for feeding blanks in succession beneath said wall, a pair of rods slidable longitudinally of the machine, a pair of arms each pivoted about the axis of one of the rods and pivoted at their free ends to the front Wall, means for swinging the arms about the axes of the rods to adjust the front wall vertically, and means for adjusting said rods, and with them the pivoted arms and the front wall, toward and from the operating mechanism.

14. A machine of the class described having, in combination, mechanism for operating upon blanks, said mechanism including a symmetrical matrix, a magazine for a stack of blanks, a feed member for feeding blanks in succession from the magazine to the operating mechanism, and means whereby a part of the magazine may be adjusted to change the angular position of the stack according to whether the blanks to be fed to the operating mechanism are rights or lefts.

l5. A machine of the class described having, in combination, mechanism for operating upon blanks, said mechanism including a symmetrical matrix, a magazine for a stack of blanks, a feed member for feeding blanks in succession from the magazine to the operating mechanism, and means whereby a part of the magazine may be adjusted to change the angular position of the stack and the location of the path of travel of the feed member according to whether the blanks to be fed to the operating mechanism are rights or lefts.

16. A machine of the class described having, in combination, mechanism for operating upon blanks, said mechanismV including a matrix roll having a symmetrical matrix, a magazine for stacks of blanks, a feed member for feeding blanks in succession from the magazine to the operating mechanism, said magazine having a rear wall, and means whereby the rear wall may be adjusted crosswise of the machine to change the angular position of the stack according to whether the blanks to be fed to the operating mechanism are rights or lefts.

17. A machine of the class described having, in combination, mechanism 4for operating upon blanks, said mechanism including a matrix roll having a symmetrical matrix, a magazine for stacks of blanks, a feed member for feeding blanks in succession from the magazine to the operating mechanism, said magazine having a rear wall, and means whereby the rear wall may be adjusted crosswise of the machine to change the angular position of the stack and the location of the feed member according to whether the blanks to be fed to the operating mechanism are rights or lefts.

18. A machine of the class described having, in combination, mechanism for operating upon blanks, a magazine for a stack of blanks to be operated upon, and means for feeding blanks in succession to the operating -mechanism, said magazine including two side walls for engaging the sides of the stack, yielding means continually urging said walls to separate and means for holding them in any position of approach tofwhich they may be moved. Y

19. A machine of the class described having, in combination, mechanism for operating upon blanks, a magazine for a stack of blanks to be operated upon, and means for feeding blanks in succession to the operating mechanism, said magazine including two side walls for engaging the sides of the stack, yielding means continually urging said walls to separate, means for holding them in any position of approach to. which they may be moved and means for releasing them whereupon they are moved farther apart.

20. A machine of the class described having, in combination, mechanism for operating upon blanks, a magazine for a stack of blanks to be operated upon, and means for feeding blanks in succession to the operating mechanism, said magazine including two side walls for engaging the sides of the stack, yielding means continually urging said walls to separate, means for holding them in any position of approach to which they may be moved, and means for adjusting said walls in unison crosswise of the machine.

21. A machine of the class described having, in combination, mechanism including a matrix for operating upon blanks, a magazine for holding stacks of blanks, the blanks of any given stack being all of the same length but the blanks of different stacks being of different lengths, said magazine having a front wall adjustable toward and from the operating mechanism to vary the distance of the leading ends of the blanks of thc` stacks from the operating mechanism, means including a feed member for feeding blanks in succession from the stacks to the operating mechanism, said means being constructed and arranged to feed all blanks the same distance irrespective of their lengths, said magazine having a rear wall adjustable toward and from the front wall, and means whereby adjusting the rear wall toward the front wall adjusts the feed member with it.

22. A machine of the class described having, in combination, mechanism including a matrix for operating upon blanks, a magazine for holding stacks of blanks, said magazine having a front wall and a rear Wall, a member for feeding blanks .in succession from the stack to the operating mechanism, means for reciprocating said member in a path of fixed length, means whereby the front wall of the magazine may be adjusted toward and from the operating mechanism, and means whereby the rear wall may be adjusted toward the front wall, the construction being such that adjusting the rear wall toward the front wall adjusts the feed member with it.

23. A machine of the class described having, in combination, mechanism including a matrix for operating upon blanks, a magazine for holding stacks of blanks, said magazine having a front wall and a rear wall, a member for feeding blanks in succession from the stack to the operating mechanism, means for reciprocating said member in a path of xed length, means whereby the front wall of the magazine may be adjusted toward and from the operating mechanism, said rear wall being adjustable toward the front wall, and means whereby adjustment of the rear wall toward the front wall adjusts the feed member so that it is substantially in Contact in succession with the trailing ends of the blanks of a stack when it begins its feeding movement irrespective of the adjusted position occupied by the front wall.

24. A machine of the class described having, in combination, mechanism including a matrix for operating upon blanks, a magazine for a stack of blanks, a bar which is held from movement during the feeding of the blanks, a member for feeding blanks in succession to the operating mechanism, said member being slidably mounted for reciprocation on the bar, means whereby the bar, and with it the feed member, may be adjusted crosswise of the machine, and means for reciprocating the feed member on the bar once for each blank fed to the operating mechanism.

25. A machine of the class described having, in combination, mechanism including a matrix for operating upon blanks, a magazine for a stack of blanks, said magazine including a front wall and a rear wall, a support for the rear wall mounted for sliding movement toward and from the front wall, a member for feeding blanks in succession from the stack to the operating mechanism, a reciprocating carrier for said feed member with respect to which the feed member is slidably adjustable toward and from the front wall, the feed member being in the path of forward sliding movement of the support for the rear wall, whereby when the support is adjusted forward to move the rear wall into operative relation to the rear end of the stack, the feed member is adjusted with respect to its carrier` 26. A machine of the class described having, in combination, mechanism including a matrix roll for operating upon blanks, spaced alined bearings between whichv said roll is located,l a hollow driving shaft rotatable in one `of the bearings, there being a driving connection between one end of the driving shaft andthe adjacent end of the roll, a pin projecting into the hollow of the driving shaft, and a roll shaft extending through the other bearing, through the roll and into the hollow of the driving shaft, said roll shaft having a groove to receive said pin.

27. A machine of the class described having, in combination, mechanism including a matrix roll for operating upon blanks, spaced alined bearings between which said roll is located, a ,hollow driving shaft rotatable in one of the bearings, there being between one end of the driving shaft and the adjacent end of the roll a driving connection which permits the roll to bc slid into place, a pin projecting into the hollow of the driving shaft, and a roll shaft extending throughthe other bearing, through the roll and into the hollow of the driving shaft, said roll shaft having a groove to receive said pin.

28. A machine of the class described having, in combination, mechanism for operating upon blanks, said mechanism including a matrix roll having two matrices spaced longitudinally thereof and means for rotating the roll, said roll being longitudinally adjustable to bring either matrix into operative position.

29. A machine of the class described having, in combination, mechanism for operating upon blanks, a magazine for stacks of blanks, a feed member for feeding blanks in succession from the magazine to the operating mechanism, said magazine having a rear wall, and means whereby the rear wall may be adjusted crosswise of the machine to change the angular position of the stack and the location of the feed member.

30. A machine of the class described having, in combination, mechanism for operating upon blanks, a magazine for a stack of blanks. a bar which is held from movement during the feeding of the blanks, a member for feeding blanks in succession to the yoperating mechanism, said member being slidably mounted for reciprocation on the bar, means whereby the bar, and with it the feed member, may be adjusted crosswise of the machine, and means for reciprocating the feed member on the bar once for each blank fed to the operating mechanism.

31. A machine of the class described having in combination mechanism including a matrix for operating upon blanks, a magazine for holding a stack of blanks, the front wall of the magazine beingpadjustable toward and fromethe operating mechanism to vary the distance of the leading ends of the blanks of the stack from the operating mechanism, a casting by which the rear wall of the magazine is carried, a block on which the casting is slidable, yielding means for normally holding the casting at the rear limit of its sliding movement onrthe block, said block being adjustable toward the rear end of the stack, a feed member in the path of adjustment of the block, and a member for adjusting the casting, the block and the feed member toward the rear end of the stack, said member when pushed toward the rear of the stack acting first to slide the casting a short distance on the block in opposition to the yielding means and then to move the casting, the block and the feed member until the rear wall of the magazine contacts with the rear end of the stack whereupon upon release of said member the yielding means acts to move the rear Wall of the magazine slightly away from the rear end of the stack so as to permit the blanks of the stack to settle as the lowermost blanks are fed from it.

32. A machine of the class described having in combination, a roll having a cylindrical portion and a. matrix, a knife adapted to cooperate with the cylindrical portion to split that part of the blank which engages the cylindrical portion by a cut which is parallel to a face of the blank and to cooperate with the matrix to make in that part of the blank which engages the matrix a cut which is at an angle to the first-named cut, a feed roll, and a series of presser fingers comprising a group adapted to press a part of the -moving blank against the matrix and another group adapted to press another part of the blank against the cylindrical portion, the operative portions of the members of the iirst group being spaced a given distance from the edge of the knife and the operative portions `of ,the members of the second group being located close!` to Jthe edge of the knife than areV the operative portions of the first group.

33. A machine of the class described having in combination, a roll having a cylindrical portion and a matrix, a knife adapted to cooperate with the cylindrical portion to split that part of the blank which engages the cylindrical portion' by a cut which is parallel to a face of the blank and to cooperate with the matrix to make in -that part of the blank which engages the matrix a cut which is at an angle to the first-named cut, a feed roll, and a series of presser fingers comprising a group adapted to press a part of the moving blank against the matrix and anothergroup adapted to press another part of the blank against the cylindrical portion, the operative portions of the members of the first group being spaced a given distance from the edge of the knife and having rounded operative portions and the operative portions of the members of the second group being located closer'to the edge of the knife than are the operative portions of the first group.

34. A machine of the class described having in combination, a roll having a cylindrical portion and a matrix, a feed roll, a knife, and a series of yieldable presser fingers comprising a group adapted to cooperate with the cylindrical portion of the roll and a second group adapted to cooperate with the matrix, the operative ends of the fingers of the rst group being located close to the edge of the knife and the operative portions of the fingers of the matrix group being located farther from the edge of the knife,

35. A machine of the class described having in combination, a roll having a cylindrical portion and a matrix, a feed roll, a knife, and a series of yieldable presser ngers comprising a group adapted to `cooperate with the cylindrical portion of the roll and a second group having rounded portions adapted to cooperate with the matrix, the operative ends of the fingers of the rst group being located close to the edge of the knife and the operative portions of the ngers of the matrix group being located farther from the edge of the knife and 4so located that their rounded portions are intersected by a plane passed through the axes of the rolls.

CHARLES E. HOOD. 

